Home Investments That Pay for Themselves

by Sean Bryant on July 5, 2016
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Home Investments That Pay for Themselves

It’s amazing what value you can add to your home with a little paint and a small landscaping project. These home projects and additions practically pay for themselves. Read on to learn how you can boost your curb appeal and keep money in your pocket.

Outside Oasis

With a high return on investment, a new backyard deck makes for a great home addition. In fact, according to the home experts from HouseLogic, a new deck is one of the most worthwhile home improvements. This is especially true for homes that are located in the Pacific West where outdoor living is more commonplace.

Outfit your backyard oasis with a new deck, plenty of lush plants, landscaping and outdoor patio furniture to create your own version of paradise. When it comes time to sell your home, you can rest assured that your addition will pay for itself.

DIY Door

The door is the first thing that guests see when arriving at your home. Make sure that your door makes the right statement by sprucing it up with a little color. This simple, do-it-yourself project only takes an afternoon and offers benefits that can last for years to come.

Popular paint colors for the door include bright red and green. However, before you get to painting, be sure the color you select complements the exterior paint color of your home to avoid clashing hues. Not only will this kick up your home’s curb appeal, a colorful door will attract buyers if you are considering selling your home in the future.

Energy-Efficient Everything

There are dozens of products on the market today that are energy-efficient. These home appliances may have an out of pocket cost at first, but over time they will pay for themselves as you save on your energy bill.

Adding an Energy Star-rated dishwasher to your kitchen enables you to use less water and energy than an outdated model. In addition to functioning better, a new dishwasher adds an updated look to your kitchen space. Washers and dryers are also culprits of excessive energy use, but you can save money if you upgrade to a newer model. For more information, visit the Energy Star website. Here you can find tools to help you calculate the returns on a wide-range of energy-efficient appliances for your home.

Try Trees

One of the most simple yard improvements can be executed with a shovel and just 10 bucks. But the return is much larger. According to the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers, a mature tree can add between $1,000 and $10,000 to the value of your home. A little digging and plenty of water can earn you some green.

Choose your trees carefully. Be sure to pick a species that is native to your area and that will thrive in the geographic region and climate. If you’re not sure what type of tree to choose, visit your local nursery and chat with a tree and plant expert. They should be able to give you a few recommendations as well as advice for care.

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Sean Bryant

Sean Bryant created OneSmartDollar.com in 2011 to help pass along his knowledge of finance and economics to others. After graduating from the University of Iowa with a degree in economics he worked as a construction superintendent before jumping into the world of finance. Sean has worked on the trade desk for a commodities brokerage firm, he was a project manager for an investment research company and was a CDO analyst at a big bank. That being said he brings a good understanding of the finance field to the One Smart Dollar community. When not working Sean and his wife are avid world travelers. He enjoys spending time with his two kids and dog Charlie.

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